Insulating device.



C. N. JOHNSON.

INSULATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY29.1913.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

CHESTER N. JOHNSON,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IN SULATING DEVICE.

To all whom z't may concern:

Beit known that I, CHESTER N. JOHNSON, a citizen of the Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Insulating Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements 1n insulating devices. Hitherto in Wlring buildings or in leading wires through conduits it has been the practice to branch the leads or terminals through more or less complicated and clumsy insulating devices, such as branch boxes, junction boxes, etc. The object of my invention is to provide an 1mproved device which will enable wires to be separated when led from a pipe or other conduit and at the same time providing an insulation for such wires. Frequently where leads are taken through the end of a pipe contact with the pipe at its end will result in the fraying or breaking down of the wire insulation, causing a short circuit and often times resulting in fire. To obviate these dangers I provide a simple form of device adapted to be secured at the end of apipe or conduit to prevent fraying of the wire insulation, and also, as stated above, to provide a spreading device which will separate the differentleads and insulate them at the same time. Another object is to provide an improved form of wire insulator and spreader which will enable the branching of individual leads and which may be easily secured to the end of a pipe without requiring rotation of the spreading'and insulating member, so that where the same is of an elongated form it may rest against a wall or floor and may be secured in such position without twistin Other objects will be made apparent as set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section through a pipe or conduit showing my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a Fig. 1.

Fig. 3'is a cation.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the modified form shown in Fig 3.

Like numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings, in which 10 designates a pipe or conduit externally threaded at its extremity 10a. Extending through section along the line 2, 2 of perspective of a slight modifi- Specitlcation of Letters Patent.

' this conduit is shown a double wiring lead United States, residing atl of the wires or spreader.'

Patented Dec. 1v, 191s.

Application led May 29, 1913. Serial No. 770,577. I

11 containin the two individual lea 11a and 11b suitly insulated as shown in Fig. \1`. To protect and separate the individual leads I provide a spreading member generally indicated by numeral 12, shown in F igs. 1 and 2, provided with a main passage 12a and branch passages 12", 12c leadln outwardly therefrom. This spreader 12 1s integrally formed of suitable insulatin material, such as porcelain, and is adapte to be constructed in sizes corresponding to the size of pipe or conduit 10 used therewith sothat the end of passage 12a will aline with and be of substantially the same diameter as the inner diameter of the pipe 10.

To suitably secure the spreader 12 to the pipe I provide a coupling member or sleeve 13 comprising the internally threaded portion 13a and the enlarged bore 13b of an inner diameter slightly larger than the exterior diameter of the base flange 12d of the spreader 12. The spreader 12 is formed above the flange 12d with the reduced neck portion 12e forming the exterior groove 12f.

When the device is assembled the outer extremity 13c of the coupling member 13 -is spun or swaged inwardly to Fit around the reduced neck 12e of spreader 12, the same being held thereby and prevented from separation therefrom by the inner shoulder 13a and inturned end 13C. This construction permits the sleeve 13 to be rotated relative to the spreader 12, but prevents separation of the two members.

In utilizing the device the leads 11a, 11b are drawn through the respective passages 12b, 12c and the spreader 12 is drawn into close contact with the end of the pipe 10 by means of the threaded sleeve 13, the latter being provided with the hexagonal outer periphery 13e adapted to be engaged by a wrench. Since the sleeve 13 may be rotated relative to the spreader 12, the twisting of the wires 11a,11b is obviated and the spreader 12 may be easily drawn into close contact with the extremity of the pipe 10 as stated above, thereby protecting the insulation of the wires from rubbing against the sharp edges of the pipe end.

Variations in the number of passages for the individual leads may be made according to conditions met with in practice. In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown a spreader 12 having three separate passages and being formed of slightly elongated shape to provide for the extra passage. In other respects the construction is the same.

It will be apparent where it is necessary to separate the leads for ease of connections, etc., and where the pipe is located adjacent thc floor or wall, it would be inconvenient to have to rotate the spreader 12 owing to the lack of space afforded. Furthermore, such rotational movement would result in the twisting of the wires. I eliminate these objections by providing the rotatable coupling sleeve which may bc rotated relative to the spreader 12 and which will at the same time serve to draw the spreader into contact with the pipe 10, and will secure the same in such position.

lVhile I have shown and described my improved device with more or less particularvity, I do not wish to be unduly restricted thereto beyond the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An insulating cap for closing the outlet end of a conduit 1n which electric wires are placed and for permitting said wires to pass therethrough, the lower end of-said cap engaging the end of said conduit and being arranged in alinement therewith, said cap including openings extending therethrough and arranged at an angle to the axis of the cap, said openings terminating atthe said lower end of the cap and in immediate proximity to the end of said conduit, the walls ot' said openings being flush with the inner wall of said conduit. whereby a smooth and uninterrupted passage is provided for said wires, a protecting band surrounding and rotatably supporting said cap by engagement with thel lower side and end portion thereof, and means operated by the rotation of said band for attaching the same to the conduit.

2. An insulating cap for closing the outlet end ot' a conduit in which electric wires are placed, and for permitting said wires to pass therethrough, said cap including openings extending therethrough and arranged at an angle to the axis of the cap, said cap being further provided with a groove extending around the same, a protecting band surrounding the lower side and end portionl of the cap and having parts loosely engaging said groove whereby said band and said cap are relatively rotatable, and means for attaching the band to the conduit in such' wise that said cap is suspended entirely below the end of said conduit.

In testimony whereof I have subscribed my name.

p CHESTER N. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

HENRY A. PARKS, EDYTHE M. ANDERsoN. 

